Records to Be Kept by the Clerk

(a) BANKRUPTCY DOCKET. The clerk must keep a docket in each case and must: (1) enter on the docket each judgment, order, and activity, as prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; and (2) show the date of entry for each judgment or order. (b) CLAIMS REGISTER. When it appears that there will be a dis- tribution to unsecured creditors, the clerk must keep in a claims register a list of the claims filed in the case. (c) JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS. (1) In General. In the form and manner prescribed by the Di- rector of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the clerk must keep a copy of: (A) every final judgment or order affecting title to, or a lien on, real property; (B) every final judgment or order for the recovery of money or property; and (C) any other order the court designates. (2) Indexing with the District Court. On a prevailing party’s re- quest, a copy of the following must be kept and indexed with the district court’s civil judgments: (A) every final judgment or order affecting title to, or a lien on, real or personal property; and (B) every final judgment or order for the recovery of money or property. (d) INDEX OF CASES; CERTIFICATE OF SEARCH. (1) Index of Cases. The clerk must keep an index of cases and adversary proceedings in the form and manner prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. (2) Searching the Index; Certificate of Search. On request, the clerk must search the index and papers in the clerk’s custody and certify whether: Rule 5004 FEDERAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE 74 (A) a case or proceeding has been filed in or transferred to the court; or (B) a discharge has been entered. (e) REGISTER OF MAILING ADDRESSES OF FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND CERTAIN TAXING AUTHORITIES. (1) In General. The United States—or a state or a territory where the court is located—may file a statement designating its mailing address. A taxing authority (including a local tax- ing authority) may also file a statement designating an ad- dress for serving requests under § 505(b). The authority’s des- ignation must describe where to find further information about additional requirements for serving a request. (2) Register of Mailing Address. (A) In General. In the form and manner prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the clerk must keep a register of the mailing ad- dresses of the governmental units listed in the first sen- tence of (1) and a separate register containing the address- es of taxing authorities for serving requests under § 505(b). (B) Number of Entries. The clerk need not include in any register more than one mailing address for each depart- ment, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or the state or territory. But if more than one mailing ad- dress is included, the clerk must also include information that would enable a user to determine when each address applies. Mailing to only one applicable address provides ef- fective notice. (C) Keeping the Register Current. The clerk must update the register annually, as of January 2 of each year. (D) Mailing Address Presumed to Be Proper. A mailing ad- dress in the register is conclusively presumed to be proper. But a failure to use that address does not invalidate a no- tice that is otherwise effective under applicable law. (f) OTHER BOOKS AND RECORDS. The clerk must keep any other books and records required by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. (As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 17, 2000, eff. Dec. 1, 2000; Apr. 23, 2008, eff. Dec. 1, 2008; Apr. 2, 2024, eff. Dec. 1, 2024.)